Adjustable template



Nov. 19, 1963 B. A. HOFFMANN 3, 1,05

ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE Filed Jan. 25, 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVEN TOR. BERNHARD A. HOFFMAN N AT TORNEYS Nov. 19, 1963 B. A. HOFFMANN ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE Filed Jan. 23. 1961 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 :1 2a AXLE v30 INVENTOR. BERNHARD A. HOFFMANN "aw 4 0m.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 19, 1963 B. A. HOFFMANN ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE N w m a mm a W 5 m m a 4 N M w .IA. 0 8 T 8 D T w R W 8 W m B F wm JmmI; .530

Filed Jan. 23, 1961 av'noo Nov. 19, 1963 B. A. HQFFMANN ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE I N N 5 t m F a E mw m h v V H /Y E s a J N 3 N w g A m e N: T B O: D T a m A 8 N: k A s N & 3x no. mo. cm 7 1% W Y I Ll- B Filed Jan. 25, 1961 Nov. 19, 1963 B. A. HOFFMANN ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Jan. 25, 1961 148 INVENTOR.

. HOFFMANN BERN-RD A AT TORN EYS Nov. 19, 1963 B. A. HOFFMANN 3,111,051

ADJUSTAELE TEMPLATE Filed Jan. 25, 1961 a Sheets-Sheet 7 I INV EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS issau-1m AQHOFFMANN Nov. 19, 1963 B. A. HOFFMANN ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed Jan. 23, 1961 INV EN TOR.

N w j ALATHE MOTOR w TRACER MOTOR w BERNHARD A. HOFFMANN BY LSl-2 ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,111,051 ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE Bernhard A.;Hoifmann, Morton, Pa., assignor to Baldwin-Lima-Harnilton Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 23, 1961, Ser. 510,851,185 9 Claims. (Cl. 82-14) This invention relates to an adjustable template and more particularly to an adjustable template for use with a tracer of a lathe, especially a large, metal-working lathe utilized in turning railroad car axles and the: like.

In the rail-road industry, axles for railroad cars are periodically brought into a repair shop and turned down several times during their useful lives, before reaching a size at which point they must be discarded. Most railroad car axles are basically the same, whether for freight cars or passenger cars, each axle including a journal, a dust guard, and a wheel seat, the journal having the smallest diameter and the wheel seat the largest. The journals are at the ends of the axles, the dust guards next, and the wheel sea-ts being the most remote from the axle ends. Although the three axle portions vary in diameter and length for diiferent axles, the same general shape prevails for all axles.

When the axles are brought into the shop to be turned down, the general practice is to take the largest cut on the journal and only a skim cut on the dust guard and wheel seat. The journal, which receives the greatest amount of wear, is turned down to a predetermined diameter for purposes of standardization so that all axles have journal diameters of any one of several standard sizes, in increments of A". In the case of new axles, they are previously rough cut to approximate predetermined diarneters and are then finish cut in an operation similar to the skim cutting operation employed for the dust guard and wheel seat of used axles. In some instances, only a skim cut is taken on all three portions of a used axle.

All of the above-mentioned operations heretofore have been done by hand which, of course, is time consuming from a labor standpoint and, hence, is expensive. The manual operation is also subject to human error. Templates for these turning operations have been used occasionally but generally are deemed impractical because too many different sized templates are required, resulting in prohibitive initial costs.

The present invention provides an adjustable template designed particularly for use with railroad axles which enables the above-described operations to be accomplished automatically, thus bringing about the many advantages resulting from automatic operation. The new template includes inserts which are adaptable for most standard axles with an additional set of inserts available for the two or three remaining sizes. The cost of the additional set of inserts is but a small percentage of the cost of other templates known in the art.

The new templates provide three template inserts corresponding to the journal, the dust guard, and the wheel seat of an axle with means for setting the diameters and lengths of the template inserts to coincide with the corresponding dimensions of the axle portions.

It is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide an improved adjustable template having many advantages over those known in the art.

Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable template adaptable for controlling a variety of turning operations on raidroad axles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an adjustable template which is adaptable for use with a multiplicity of railroad axles varying in diameter and length.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable template having a plurality of removable and replaceable template segments.

Still a further object of the inventionis to provide an adjustable template which will enable a fullcut to be made on a portion of a workpiece and a skim out to be made on-another portion thereof should the initial measurements so require.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent drom the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in-which:

FIG. 1 is airagmentary plan View of an axle lathe having an adjustable template unit embodying the principles of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in cross section taken along the line 22 of FIG-1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view in crosssection taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1 of the adjustable template unit;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary bottom view of the adjustable template unit shown in FIG. 3, with the unit initially moved into contact with an axle upon which a turning operation is to be performed;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 and showing the template unit in a final position after having been moved into engagement with the axle and adjusted with respect to the contour and dimensions thereof;

FIG. 6 is a view in elevation of the unit shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, taken along the line 6-6 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a view in cross section taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view in cross section taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 6;

FIGS. 911 are greatly enlarged, fragmentary, bottom views of a portion of the adjustable template unit shown in 'FIGS. 4 and 5, with movable parts of the portion being shown in different positions;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic view of a hydraulic system employed with the template unit; and

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic view of an electrical circuit used with the hydraulic system and the template unit.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, an axle lathe 10 includes two substantially identical end portions 12 which are symmetrical about a centerline so designated in FIG. 1. The end portions 12 each include a base 14 on which are carriage ways 16 slidably supporting a carriage 18. The carriage 18 supports and transports a tool unit 20 and a tracer unit 22 (FIG. 2) which ride on unit ways 24 (FIGS. 1 and 2). The tool unit 20 and the tracer unit 22 are coupled together by a rod 26 (FIG. 2) having ends thereof oppositely threaded so that the tool unit 20 and the tracer unit 22 move toward and away from the work in unison as a tracer 28 (FIGS. 2 and 3) follows a template surface of an adjustable template unit 30 embodying the principles of the invention.

In the basic operation of the lathe 10, a railroad axle which is designated axle in the drawings, .is placed in a center cradle 32 (FIG. 1) and is clamped between lathe centers 34. When the axle is in position, and before it is rotated, the template unit 38 is moved against the axle and is adjusted to thecontour and dimensions thereof as will be explained fullysubsequently. The unit 30 is then moved backyfrom the axle a predetermined distance and the tracer 28 scans. the adjusted template and drives the tool unit 20 accordingly, making a desired cut on the axle which is rotated during the scanning operation of the tracer 28.

All railroad axles using friction bearings include, at each end, an end collar (see FIGS. 4 and 5), a journal which cooperates with a car-mounted bearing block to 3 support the car on the axle, a dust guard, and a Wheel seat upon which is mounted a wheel. These portions are located from the end of the axle toward the center thereof and are of substantially the same shape for any particular axle; however, the lengths and the diameters of the three portions will vary.

Three types of turning operations are also used :for the various axles. For a used axle, the collar, journal, :dust guard, and wheel seat may only require a skim cut. Secondly, a skim cut may be taken on the collar, dust guard, and wheel seat seat while a deeper cut is taken on the journal. Thirdly, for a new axle, a rough cut is first taken, allowing stock for a finishing operation. A finish cut is then made, based on a preturned master axle, this operation differing from the roughing operation only in the amount of metal removed.

The new adjustable template unit 30, discussed below, is capable of handling and controlling all three of the above-discussed types of cuts and, in addition, is capable of handling substantially all known used and new axles of both passenger car and freight car types. In some instances, for particular odd sizes of axles, some of the template inserts must be replaced by others. However, the cost of the additional few inserts required is but a small fraction of the cost of an entire template as must now be used for different sizes of railroad axles, if a tem plate is used at all. Because of the high initial costs of the many templates required for automatically turning railroad axles of various sizes, most axles are presently turned by hand.

Referring now more particularly to the adjust-able template unit 30 embodying the principles of the invention, the unit 30 is carried on a main slide 36 (see FIGS. 3-6) which rides on slide ways 38 of a template supporting frame 40 (FIGS. 3-5). The main slide 36 carries the template unit 30 toward and away from the axle by any suitable means such as a hydraulic ram 42 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The main slide 36 has template ways 44 (FIGS. 3-8) which extend parallelly to the longitudinal axis of the railroad axle and perpendicularly to the slide ways 38.

Rough axle diameters and the limits of movement of the main slide 36 on the ways 38 of the supporting flame 40 are set by a rectangular stop member 46 (FIGS. 3-5) having a central opening 48 including a plurality of opposed stepped faces 50 and 52 (FIGS. 4 and Each of the faces 50 and 52 are spaced an equal distance from the opposite face but each pair is at different distances from the template unit 30. The stop member 46 moves with the main slide 36 and stops the slide when a rigid finger 54 (FIGS. 3-5) mounted in the frame 40 contacts one of the faces 50 and 52 of the member 46. The stop member 46 is movable laterally of the slide 36 in a rectangular recess 56 and is adjustably set in the recess 56 by means of two adjustin-g rods 58 (FIGS. 4 and 5) which are set in predetermined positions by any suitable means such as nuts 60. One of the rods 58 has a pointer 62 located adjacent a scale 64 which indicates particular axle sizes. For a given size axle, the pointer 62 is set opposite the appropriate marking on the scale 64 which, in turn, sets the opposed faces 50 and 52 in proper relationship with respect to the finger 5'4 and thereby limits movement of the main slide 36 and the template unit 30 to correspond to the proper axle size. The faces 52 determine the limit of movement of the slide 36 and the template unit 30 toward the axle and the faces 50 determine the limit of movement of the slide 36 and the template unit 30 away from the axle, the latter being the position at which the tracer 28 will contact the template of the template unit 30. In the positions shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the stop member 46 is adjusted for the largest diameter axle, in this position the template unit 30 moving toward the axle the least distance and away from the axle the greatest distance. The opposed iaces 50 and 52 are usually stepped in one-quarter inch intervals to accommodate the various sizes of axles.

When the template unit 30 has been moved in by the main slide 36 to the point Where the rigid finger 54 contacts the appropriate face 52, the various template sections are adjusted to the shape and dimensions of the axle. A complete template 66 (FIGS. 4 and 5) is made up of a number of inserts or sections including a generally triangular starting and collar template section 68, a journal template section 70, a journal shoulder radius compensating section 72, a dust guard section 74, a dust guard shoulder radius compensating section 76, a wheel seat section 78, and a wheel seat shoulder section 80. After adjustment, the unit 30 is moved to its near position with the appropriate face 50 contacting the finger 54. The axle is then rotated and the tracer 28 scans the template 66, directing the cutting tool accordingly. The finger 54 includes means for starting rotation of the axle and initiates movement of the carriage 18 when the slide 36 is moved to its rearward position; this will be discussed more fully subsequently when the controls of the template unit 30 are discussed.

The start and collar template 68 is suitably attached to and carried by a radial collar slide 82 which moves perpendicularly to the axis of the axle, thereby moving the collar template 68 in or out to a position corresponding to the diameter of the end collar of the axle. The radial collar slide 82 is moved when a spring-loaded roller or feeler 84 at the end of the slide 82 contacts the coller, slide 82. being carried in a groove 86 formed in a longitudinal collar slide 88 which moves parallelly to the axis of the axle on the ways 44. Movement of the longitudinal collar slide 88 positions the start and collar template 68 in a longitudinal position corresponding to the position of the collar. This movement of the slide 88 is accomplished by a collar ram 98 which is attached to the longitudinal collar slide 88 by a plate 92 and moves the slide 88 toward the left in FIGS. 4 and 5 when a collar piston rod 94 is extended, as will be more fully discussed subsequently. Movement of the slide 88 continues toward the left until a collar stop 96 carried by the slide 88 contacts the face of the end collar. At this point, the slide 88 has carried the radial collar slide 82 and the collar template 68 to the left with the template 68 now corresponding to the position of the collar. A radial collar slide locking ram 96 then wedges the radial collar slide 82 in a fixed position in the groove 86 and a longitudinal collar slide locking ram 98 Wedges the longitudinal collar slide 88 in a fixed position with respect to the ways 44. These rams prevent movement of the collar template 68 when the template unit 30 is backed away from the axle to its rearward position at which the tracer 28 contacts the template 66, and more specifically, contacts the sloping surface of the collar template 68. The ram 96 is attached to and carried by the longitudinal collar slide 88 through a plate 188 which also serves to hold the radial slide 82 in the groove 86, and the ram 98 is attached to the main slide 36 adjacent the ways 44 by means of a plate 102.

The journal template 70 includes a fillet portion 104 and is positioned radially and longitudinally with respect to the axle corresponding to the journal portion thereof. The template 78 is mounted on a radial journal slide 186 and moves radially with respect to the axle when the slide 106 is so moved by means of a spring-loaded roller or feeler 108. A spring 110 (FIG. 7) is maintained in compression between the radial journal slide 106 and a. longitudinal journal slide 112 to urge the slide 106 toward the axle until the roller 108 contacts the axle and overcomes the force of the spring 110. The slide 186 then moves radially outwardly on ways 114 formed in the longitudinal slide 112 and carries the template 7% outwardly therewith to a position corresponding to the diameter of the journal.

The longitudinal journal slide 112 rides on the ways 44 and is moved toward the right in FIGS. 4 and 5 by the hydraulic ram 98 when the ram rod 94, to which the slide 112 is attached, is extended from the cylinder 90.

tacts the journal fillet.

The slide 112 moves toward the right until a button 116 .of a sensitive microswitch 118 contacts a fillet of the journal. The button 116 at this point is pushed inwardly and operates the switch 118 which stops the supply of 'hydraulic fluid to the ram 90. The longitudinal journal slide 112 has a recess 120 (FIGS. 6 and .8) into which extends adetent 122 which is spring-loaded and held in a cylinder .124 in the main slide 36. When the longitudinal collar slide 88 and the longitudinal journal slide 112 are adjacent, before their movement is initiated by the ram 98, the detent 122 projects partially into the recess 120 and initially prevents movement of the longitudinal journal slide 112 .When the rod 94 of the ram 90 is extended. Thus, the longitudinal collar slide 88 first moves toward the left before any movement of the journal slide 112 is effected and this movement of the slide 88 continues until the stop 96 contacts the collar. At this point, the longitudinal collar slide 88 stops and the ram 9%) then overcomes the resistance of the detent 122 and causes the longitudinal journal slide 112 to move toward the right until the button 116 of thernicroswitch 1 18 con- The journal template 7% includingthe fillet portion 104, is carried toward the right with the radial journal slide 186 and the longitudinal journal slide 112 so that the fillet portion 164 corresponds in position'to the actual journal fillet when the longitudinal journal slide 112 is stopped.

When the radial journal slide 186 has been radially positioned according to the diameter of the journal, a journalradial slide ram 126.carried by the radial'journal slide 106 is actuated to force a radial journal ram rod 128 downwardly (FIG. 7). The rod moves outwardly from the ram 126 until it contacts one of several steps 130 of an insert 132 carried by the longitudinal journal slide 112. The rod 128 does not wedge the journal slide 186 in a fixed position, however, so that when all template sections are in their proper positions with respect to the axle and the template unit 30 is moved away from the axle, the spring 110 will force the slide 106 along with the ram 126 and the rod 128 toward the axle until the rod 128 moves against a riser or vertical portion of the insert 132, between the steps 130. This movement sets the journal template 70 at a position equivalent to the next smaller standard journal diameter which is smaller than the actual diameter of the-journal so that the tracer 28.will move the tool inwardly toward the journal slightly more than for the other axle portions, thereby causing the tool to take a full cut on the journal. The journal is cutor turned to a standard diameter, which is, of course, less than the actual diameter of the journal before turning. It will be understood that as a used axle is turned down after successive periods of use, the ram rod 128 will progressivelycontact those steps 138 which are closer to the axle, with each turning operation, reducing the journal diameter to a smaller standard diameter.

After the template unit'30 has been backed away from the work and the ram rod 128 contacts a riser of one of the steps 130, placing the journal template 70 in a position corresponding to a standard journal diameter, a radial journal slide locking ram'134 (FIGS. 4-6) is actuated to cause its ram rod 136 (FIG. 6) to engage the ways 114 and hold the radial journal locking slide 106 in a fixed position. Similarly, a longitudinal journal slide locking ram 138 (FIGS. 4-6) engages the ways 44 of the main slide. 36 .to hold the longitudinal journal slide 1'1'2 in a fixed position.

The longitudinal journal slide 112 also carries a radial dust guard slide 140 upon which is mounted the dust guard template 74. Theslide 140 has a spring-loaded contact roller orfeeler 142 which contacts the dust guard as .the template unit 30 is moved toward the axle and,

in tum, moves the slide 140 and the dustguard template 74 .to a proper radial position with respect to the dust guard. At the same time, the template 74 moves radially with respect to the journal template 7G and the journal fillet portion 104, with the journal shoulder radius compensator 72 (hereinafter described) then functioning to close any gap between the journal template 70 and the dust guard template 74 to maintain a proper shoulder contour corresponding to the journal shoulder.

With the template 74 in proper position, a dust guard radial slide locking ram 144 is actuated to lock the radial dust guard slide 1 40 in a fixed position with respect to the longitudinal journal slide 112. A second longitudinal journal slide locking ram 146 is also actuated to hold the longitudinal journalslide 112 in place on the ways 44.

The wheel seat template 78 is slidably held between a portion of the wheel seat fillet template and a radial wheel seat slide 148. The slide 148 is mounted on ways 150 of a longitudinal wheel seat slide 152 and is moved radially with respect to the axle by a spring-loaded contact roller or feeler 154. The roller l54 contacts the wheel seat of the axle and moves the radial slide 14 8, the wheel seat template 78, and the fillet template 80 radially with respect thereto to positions corresponding to the wheel seat.

A radial Wheel seat slide lockingcylinder156 locks the radial slide 148 with respect to the longitudinal slide 152 to prevent further radial movement of the wheel seat template 78.

The longitudinal slide 15-2 is moved toward the right in FIGS. 4 and 5 by means of a longitudinal wheel seat ram 158 which is mounted on the endyof the main slide 36 and has a piston rod connected to the longitudinal slide 1 52. Movement of the longitudinal slide 152 also moves the radial wheel seat slide 148 and the wheel seat fillet template 80 which is attached to the radial slide 148. The wheel seat template 78, however, is connected to the dust guard shoulder radius compensator 76, to be more fully discussed subsequently, and does not move longitudinally with the slides 148 and 152 or the template 80. The longitudinal slide 152 moves toward the right as the rod of the ram 158 is drawn thereinto until a contact button 159 of a microswitch -160 contacts the fillet of the Wheel seat. The button 159 is then pushed inwardly causing the switch 160 to stop the flow of fluid to the rod end of the ram 158, at which point the wheel seat fillet template 80 is properly positioned longitudinally with respect to the wheel seat fillet.

Two longitudinal wheel seat slide locking rams 162 and 164 are then actuated tolock the longitudinal wheel seat slide 152 with respect to the ways 44 of the main slide 36.

At this time, all of the template sections of the template 66 are in proper positions and locked therein except for the jounnal template 78 which is not in its final position and locked until the template unit 30 is: backed away from theaxle to enable the rod 128 of the ram 126 to contact the appropriate riser or vertical portion of the insert 132, at which time the 121111134 locks the radial slide 106 and the journal template 70, along with the fillet pordon-104, in position to complete the template adjusting operation.

The template unit 38 is then moved away from the axle by the ram 42 (FIGS. 2 and 3) until the finger 54 abuts the corresponding stepped face 50. When this occurs, the axle is rotated and the tool carriage 20 and the tracer carriage 22 are moved inwardly toward the work until the tracer;28 contacts the template 66-. This can be accomplished by means ofa switch 166 (FIGS. 1 and 3) which is operated by mechanism located in the finger 5 4. This mechanism includes ahorizontal pin 168 (FIG. 3) which is pushed horizontally when the extremity of r the finger 54 contacts thecorresponding step 58 of the member 46. The horizontal pin 168yhasa V-shaped notch 170 into which extends a V-shaped end of a vertical rod 172. Horizontal movement of the pin 168, through a camrning action, forces the rod 172 upwardly, causing it toeng-age a switch roller174 ofthe switch 166 and trip it. This starts the rotation of the axle and moves the carriages20 and 22 inwardly.

Radius Compensators Referring now in more detail to FIGS. 9-11, the radius compensating sections 72 and 76 are shown in more detail. While the diameter of the dust guard is always larger than the diameter of the journal, their diameters do not, of course, always diifer by the same amount. Consequently, a gap would frequently exist between the journal fillet template portion 104 and the dust guard template 74 if this gap were not closed by the journal shoulder radius compensator 72. The compensator 72 includes an arcuate part 176 having a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the journal fillet portion 104. The com pensator 72 also includes a rounded corner 178 which blends with a slanted shoulder 180 of the dust guard template 74. The compensator 72 is affixed to a plate 182 which is pivotally mounted on the radial journal slide 106 by means of a pin 184 located at the center of the radius of the arcuate portion 176. The compensator 72 also has a pin 186 which extends through an elongated opening 188 so that the plate 182 and the compensator 104 rotate as the relative radial positions of the journal template 70 and the dust guard template 74 change. Thus, as the dust guard template 74 moves outwardly with respect to the journal template 70 the plate 182 and the compensator 72 move in a clockwise direction as shown in FIGS. 9-11 with part of the arcuate portion 176 and part of the rounded corner 1178 filling the gap between the two template sections and blending with the rounded shoulder 180. As this movement occurs, the pin 186 moves toward the right in the elongate opening 188. The plate 182 and the compensator 72 extend into a recess 1% in the journal template 70 and an undercut portion 192 in the dust guard template 74.

While the wheel seat diameter is always larger than the dust guard diameter, they again do not always differ by the same amount. Consequently, a gap or oiiset would occur frequently between the dust guard template 74 and the wheel seat template 78. However, the dust guard radius compensator 76 provides a bridge between the templates and maintains proper contour of the dust guard shoulder in spite of differences in the relative diameters of the dust guard and wheel seat. The dust guard compensator 76 includes a short arcuate portion 194 and a rounded shoulder portion 196 which blends with a rounded corner 198 of the wheel seat template 80. The compensator 76 is affixed to a plate 200 which is pivotally mounted on the radial dust guard slide 140 by a pin 202 located at the center of the radius of the arcuate portion 194. The radius compensator 76 also carries a pin 204 which extends downwardly through a hole 206 in the wheel seat template 78 so that the plate 200 and the compensator 76 rotate as the relative radial positions of the dust guard template 74 and the wheel seat template 78 change. As shown in FIGS. 9-11, the plate 200 and the compensator 76 rotate in a counterclockwise direction as the dust guard template 74 moves outwardly relative to the wheel seat template 78. As this occurs, the template 78 moves in a longitudinal direction toward the template 74. However, movement of the template 78 does not affect the position of the wheel seat fillet template 80 (FIGS. 4 and 5), the two being held in slidable engagement one with respect to the other. Portions of the plate 200 and the compensator 76 are located in the undercut 192 of the template 74 and also in a recess 208 of the wheel seat template 78.

Control and Operation FIG. 2, and with a work piece in the lathe, a start switch designated start in FIG. 1.3 is closed to complete a circuit in a line 210 to operate a time delay relay designated TDRl which times out for a predetermined period during which its contacts TDR11 in a line 212 are closed, thereby actuating a solenoid A. This solenoid throws a hydraulic valve 214 (FIG. 12) which enables hydraulic fluid from a sump to be supplied through a pump to the blind end of the cylinder 42, thereby causing the main slide 36 to move forwardly until the finger 54 contacts one of the steps 52. By the time the finger 54 has contacted the step 52 with which it is aligned, the feelers 84,108, 142, and 154 have contacted the corresponding parts of the axle and have moved their associated radial slides and the template sections 68, 70, 74, 78, and to appropriate relative radial positions.

When the finger 54 contacts the step 52 and stops movement of the ram 42, hydraulic fluid pressure in a line 216 feeding the blind end of the ram 42 will increase to the point where it trips a pressure switch designated PS (FIG. 12). When this switch is tripped, it closes its contacts PS-l (FIG. 13) in a line 218 which completes a circuit through the line 218 and lines 220 and 222 to actuate solenoids G and E. Operation of the solenoid G actuates a four-way valve 224 (FIG. 12) and causes hydraulic fluid to be supplied to the ram which longitudinally moves the longitudinal collar slide 88 and the longitudinal journal slide 112. Operation of the solenoid E actuates a four-way hydraulic valve 226 which operates the ram 158 and moves the longitudinal wheel seat slide 152. The slides 88 and 112 move longitudinally until the button 116 (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the microswitch =118 contacts the fillet of the axle and opens its contacts 1:18-1 (FIG. 13) in the line 220. This stops the ram 90. The slide 152 moves until the button 159 (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the micro-switch 160 contacts the wheel seat fillet and opens its contacts 1604 (FIG. 13) in the line 222 to stop the ram 158.

At the same time that the micro-switch 1 18 stops the ram 90, it closes its normally opened contacts 1118-2 in a line 227 to actuate a time delay relay TDR2. This relay closes its contacts TDR21 in a line 228 which completes a circuit through the line 228 and lines 230 and 232 to actuate solenoids H and K. The solenoid H then operates a hydraulic valve 234 (FIG. 12) to supply fluid to the locking rams 96, 9 8, 138, and 146 to lock in place the radial and longitudinal collar slides and the longitudinal journal slide as soon as the micro-switch 118 contacts the fillet. At the same time, the solenoid K operates a hydraulic valve 236 which actuates the ram 126 and causes the rod 128 to move down on the appropriate step 130 (FIG. 7). The relay TDR2 holds its contacts 118-2 closed long enough for the main slide 36 subsequently to reach its rear position. At that time, the switch 166 is tripped and closes its contacts 166-1 in a line 238 which continue to hold the rams locked after the time delay relay TDR2 times out and its contacts TDR2-1 again open.

The solenoids G and B will be deactivated as soon as the main slide 36 begins to back away from the axle because the pressure switch PS will again revert to its inactive position as the pressure drops and thereby will open its contacts PS-l in the line 218 to break the circuit, even though the con-tacts 118-1 and 1 again close as the pressure switches 118 and 160 move away from the axle. This keeps the rams 90 and 158 in fixed position after the main slide 36 retracts.

When the main slide 36 reaches its rear position and trips the switch 166, it also closes its contacts 166-2 in a line 240 to actuate a solenoid C in a line 242. The solenoid C operates a hydraulic valve 244 (FIG. 12) which supplies hydraulic fluid to the locking ram 126 and locks the radial journal slide 106 in position after it has been backed away from the axle and has moved so that the rod 126 engages one of the steps 130. This enables a full cut to be made on the journal to reduce it to a standard diameter, as previously discussed. Where only a skim cut is to be taken on all portions of the axle, including the 9 journal, a manually operated switch 244 (FIG. 13) in a line 246 is closed so that the solenoid C will be actuated along with the solenoids H and K when the contacts 118-2 of the micro-switch 118 are closed and, in turn, close the contacts TDRZ-l.

While the longitudinal collar and journal slides 88 and 112 are moved to proper positions, the wheel seat slide 152 moves until the micro-switch 160 is tripped. The micro-switch 1 60 stops the ram 158- and in addition closes its contacts 168-2 in a line 248 which initiates actuation of a time delay relay TDR3. This relay, while timing out, closes its contacts TDR3 -1 in a line 250 and keeps these contacts closed until the main slide 3 6 is retracted and a set of contacts 166-3 can be closed when the switch 166 is tripped. The contacts TDR3-1 close a solenoid J in a line 252 and a solenoid B in a line 254. The solenoid J actuates a hydraulic valve 256 (FIG. 12) which actuates locking rams 162 and 164 thereby to lock the longitudinal wheel seat slide 152 in its longitudinal position. The solenoid B actuates a valve 258 which operates locking rams 144 and 156 to lock the radial dust guard slide 1 40 and the radial wheel seat slide 148 in their radial positions.

When all of the template sections have moved to and stopped in positions corresponding to the shape and di mensions of the axle upon which a turning operation is to commence, and the time delay relay TDRl (FIG. 13) has finished timing out, the contacts TDRl-l will open to deactivate the solenoid A. The hydraulic valve 214 then reverts to its original position and supplies hydraulic fluid to the rod end of the ram 42 to retract the main slide 36. The finger 54- (FIG. 3) will again engage one of the steps 50 and the switch 166 will be tripped to close the contacts 166-1, 166-2, and 166-3 (FIG. 13) in order to maintain the template sections locked in their positions after the respective timers TDR2 and TDR3 have timed out. Contacts 166-4 of the switch 166- in a line 260 also are closed and operate a lathe motor to rotate the axle and a tracer unit motor which moves the tracer unit 22 (FIG. 2) and the tracer 28 toward the template 66; as well as moves the tool unit 20- toward the axle. The tracer 28 then scans the template 66 in the usual manner and controls the tool unit 20 accordingly.

When the tracer 28 reaches the'end of the template 66, it trips a limit switch LS1 (FIGS. 4 and 5) located near the end of the template 80. Contacts LS1-1 (FIG. 13) in the line 260 open and shut oif the lathe motor and tracer unit motor. At the same time, limit switch contacts LS1-2 in a line 262 close to complete a circuit to a solenoid D in a line 264 and a solenoid F in a line 266. The solenoid D moves the four-way valve 224 (FIG. 12.) in the opposite direction and causes the ram 158 to move the longitudinal wheel seat slide 152 in the opposite direction to ready it for a new cycle. The solenoid F (FIG. 13) moves the four-way valve 226 (FIG. 12) in the opposite direction and causes the ram 90 to move the longitudinal slides 88 and 106 toward one another to ready them for another cycle. The solenoids D and F (FIG. 13) are deactivated by a limit switch LS2 (FIGS. 4 and 5) located behind the slide 88, which switch is contacted by the slide 88 when the rams 90 and 150 are retracted thereby to open contacts LS2-1 (FIG. 13) in the line 262 and break the circuit to the solenoids D and F.

Various modifications of the above-described preferred embodiment of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and it is to be understood that such modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention, it within the spirit and tenor of the accompanying claims.

We claim:

1. An adjustable template for directing a tool along a predetermined path corresponding to a shape desired for a work piece, which path and shape vary relatively little from work piece to work piece, but which have two adjacent portions the lateral dimensions of which vary, said template comprising a plurality of template sections the shape of each of which conforms to the shape of a portion of the work piece, first means for carrying said sections for movement generally perpendicularly to a surface of the work piece, second means for carrying said sections for movement generally parallel to the surface of the work piece, means for positioning said first carrying means for placing said sections in relative positions corresponding to relative lateral dimensions of said work piece, and means for positioning said second carrying means for placing said sections in positions corresponding to longitudinal dimensions of the work piece, means responsive to relative movement between two template sections corresponding to said two adjacent portions for maintaining a smooth path between said two sections as the dimensions of the adjacent portions vary from work piece to work piece.

2. An adjustable template which can be adjusted to shapes corresponding to shapes of work pieces which are circular in cross section, none of which work pieces vary to any great extent from piece to piece as to both size and shape, but which have two adjacent portions the lateral dimensions of which vary, said template comprising a plurality of template sections, the shape of each of which generally conforms to the shape of a portion of a work piece, first means for carrying said sections for radial movement with respect to a work piece, second means for carrying said sections for movement axially of a work piece, means for positioning said first carrying means 'for placing the sec-tions in relative lateral positions corresponding to the relative diameters of a work piece, means responsive to relative movement between two template sections corresponding to said two adjacent portions for maintaining a smooth path between said two sections as the dimensions of the adjacent portions vary from work piece to work piece, and means for positioning said second carrying means for placing the sections longitudinally in positions corresponding to axial dimensions of the work piece.

3. An adjustable template which can be adjusted to shapes corresponding to shapes of work pieces which are circular in cross section, none of which work pieces vary to any great extent from piece to piece as to both size and shape, said template comprising a plurality of template sections, the shape of each of which conforms to the shape of a portion of the work piece, first means for carrying said sections for radial movement with respect to a work piece, second means for carrying said sections for movement axially of a work piece, means for moving said first and second means, and feelers associated with said first and second carrying means and engageable with portions of a work piece for positioning said sections in relative positions radially to correspond to relative diameters of a work piece and in positions longitudinally to correspond with longitudinal dimensions of the work piece.

4. An adjustable template which can be adjusted to shapes corresponding to shapes of work pieces which are circular in cross section, none of which work pieces vary to any great extent from piece to piece as to both size and shape, said template comprising a plurality of template sections, the shape of each of which conforms to the shape of a portion of a work piece, radially-moving means for carrying said sections for movements generally perpendicular to a surface of a work piece, longitudinally-moving means for carrying said sections for movement parallel to an axis of the work piece, said longitudinally-moving means having means for carrying said radially-moving means, first feelers associated with said radially-moving means and engagea'ole with a work piece for placing said sections in relative positions corresponding to relative lateral dimensions of a work piece, and second feelers associated with said longitudinally-moving means and engageable with a work piece for placing said sections in position corresponding to longitudinal dimensions of a work piece.

5. An adjustable template according to claim 4 and a main slide for carrying said longitudinally-moving means, and means to move said main slide between positions in which said feelers are in contact with a work piece and a second position in which the sections are located in positions corresponding to lateral dimensions of a work piece.

6. An adjustable template which can be adjusted to shapes corresponding to shapes of work pieces which include cylindrical portions and shoulders extending radially therefrom, said template comprising a template section, the shape of which conforms to the shape of a cylindrical portion and a shoulder of a work piece, radiallymoving means for carrying said section for movement generally perpendicular to the surface of the cylindrical portion, longitudinally-moving means for carrying said section for movement parallel to an axis of the work piece, said longitudinally-moving means having means for carrying said radially-moving means, means engageable with the cylindrical portion of the work piece for positioning said radially-moving means for placing said section in a lateral position corresponding to the diameter of the cylindrical portion of the work piece, and means engageable with the shoulder of the work piece for positioning said longitudinally-moving means for placing said section in a position in which the shoulder of said section is in a position corresponding to the shoulder of the work piece. 7. An adjustable template which can be adjusted to shapes corresponding to shapes of work pieces each of which includes a cylindrical portion, a shoulder extending radially from said cylindrical portion, and a collar spaced from said shoulder and extending radially from said cylindrical portion, said template comprising at least two template sections, the shape of each of which conforms to the shape of a portion of a work piece, radially-moving means for carrying said sections for movements generally perpendicular to a surface of a cylindrical portion of the work piece, longitudinally-moving means for carrying said sections for movement parallel to an axis of the work piece, means engageable with the work piece for positioning said radially-moving means for placing the sections in relative lateral positions corresponding to the relative diameters of the portions of the work piece, and means engageable with the work piece for positioning said longitudinally-moving means for placing the sections longitudinally in positions corresponding to the longitudinal positions of the shoulder and the collar of the work piece.

8. An adjustable template which can be adjusted to shapes corresponding to shapes of work pieces which include at least two cylindrical portions of at least two different diameters and a shoulder therebetween, said template comprising a plurality of template sections, the shape of each of which conforms to the shape of a portion of a work piece, radially-moving means for carrying said sections for movements generally perpendicular to surfaces of cylindrical portions of the work piece, longitudinally-moving means for carrying said sections for movement parallel to an axis of the work piece, said longi tudinally-moving means having means for carrying said radially-moving means, means engageable with the work piece for positioning said radially-moving means for placing the template sections in relative lateral positions corresponding to the relative diameters of the cylindrical portions of the work piece, and means engageable with the work piece for positioning said longitudinally-moving means for placing the sections longitudinally in positions corresponding to the longitudinal location of the shoulder of the work piece.

9'. An adjustable template which can be adjusted to shapes corresponding to shapes of work pieces which include at least two cylindrical portions of at least two different diameters and a shoulder therebetween, said template comprising a plurality of template sections, the shape of each of which conforms to the shape of a portion of a work piece, radially-moving means for carrying said sections for movements generally perpendicular to surfaces of cylindrical portions of a work piece, longitudinally-moving means for carrying said sections for movement parallel to an axis of a work piece, means for positioning said radially-moving means for placing the template sections in relative lateral positions corresponding to the relative diameters of the cylindrical portions of the work piece, means for positioning said longitudinallymoving means for placing the sections longitudinally in positions corresponding to the longitudinal location of the shoulder of the work piece, an additional template section between two template sections corresponding to two cylin drical portions of the work piece, a portion of which additional section is shaped similarly to a portion of the shoulder of the work piece, and means associated with said two template sections for changing the position of the additional template section as the difference between the diameters of the cylindrical portions change from work piece to work piece.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,937,400 Bickel NOV. 28, 1933 2,433,048 Himofi Dec. 23, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS 865,920 France Mar. 17, 1941 

1. AN ADJUSTABLE TEMPLATE FOR DIRECTING A TOOL ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH CORRESPONDING TO A SHAPE DESIRED FOR A WORK PIECE, WHICH PATH AND SHAPE VARY RELATIVELY LITTLE FROM WORK PIECE TO WORK PIECE, BUT WHICH HAVE TWO ADJACENT PORTIONS THE LATERAL DIMENSIONS OF WHICH VARY, SAID TEMPLATE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF TEMPLATE SECTIONS THE SHAPE OF EACH OF WHICH CONFORMS TO THE SHAPE OF A PORTION OF THE WORK PIECE, FIRST MEANS FOR CARRYING SAID SECTIONS FOR MOVEMENT GENERALLY PERPENDICULARLY TO A SURFACE OF THE WORK PIECE, SECOND MEANS FOR CARRYING SAID SECTIONS FOR MOVEMENT GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE SURFACE OF THE WORK PIECE, MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAID FIRST CARRYING MEANS FOR PLACING SAID SECTIONS IN RELATIVE POSITIONS CORRESPONDING TO RELATIVE LATERAL DIMENSIONS OF SAID WORK PIECE, AND MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAID SECOND CARRYING MEANS FOR PLACING SAID SECTIONS IN POSITIONS CORRESPONDING TO LONGITUDINAL DIMENSIONS OF THE WORK PIECE, MEANS RESPONSIVE TO RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN TWO TEMPLATE SECTIONS CORRESPONDING TO SAID TWO ADJACENT PORTIONS FOR MAINTAINING A SMOOTH PATH BETWEEN SAID TWO SECTIONS AS THE DIMENSIONS OF THE ADJACENT PORTIONS VARY FROM WORK PIECE TO WORK PIECE. 